Midheaven

QUICK LINKS

Politics and Governance
• Power, Influence, Legitimacy, and Authority
• Career Fest – Deciding Your Future

Anthropology
• Warrior is a Child (song analysis)
• Hypervaluated Hymen
• Bundu Trap
• The Initiation of a Maasai Warrior
• Eating Christmas in the Kalahari

Power, Influence, Legitimacy, and Authority

I believe that the term EDSA Revolution is over-used. This kind of revolution is supposed to be an act of unity among the people, aiming to heal the whole community of past wrongs and injustices while upholding peace and order. Judging by the outright rudeness of the Erap supporters, starting riots and attempting to enter Malacañang, this cannot be called EDSA 3. It was just Erap’s last stand to bring himself back to power. He acquired that power when he was voted by the people and declared the 13th president of the Philippines. He was the implementer of the laws as opposed to the legislative branch that enact the laws and the judiciary branch that interpret them.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada lost the moral authority to govern when the Supreme Court filed a resolution declaring the position of president vacant. When Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took oath in EDSA, she was duly recognized as the 14th president of the Republic of the Philippines by the people and the international community (United Nations) therefore, she is considered the legitimate leader as the people are in her favor. Erap lost legitimacy when the people withdrew their support. After EDSA 2 when he claimed that he never really resigned and that Arroyo was just the acting president, he was distorting the truth. He wanted to gain the immunity that came with his position.

He had a lot of influence because he was an actor. I credit the number of votes he received mainly to “name recall.” In his movies, he portrayed the role of a man tirelessly and selflessly defending poor. He was peddling influence to gain the favor and support of the “masa.” They considered him as one of their own and of course, they saw him as the victim. He may say that he is “for the people” but I beg to disagree. All I see is him, living in riches. Still, I cannot blame the “masa” for feeling the way they do since I have not experienced whatever injustices they have endured. These battles have left the “masa” at the bottom of the barrel. They are truly the ones in the losing end, seemingly helpless pawns. Our bad political system is widening the gap between the poor and the rich.

The key to avoiding future events that inspire this twisted kind of People Power is to actually start listening to what the “masa” mean, not just what they say and give them the kind of attention that every citizen is entitled to. In politics and industry, the elite has always been favored, it is time for the government to mend its ways and act upon their empty words.

© 22 June 2003 Fatima Niosco

Deciding Your Future

Even though I won’t be graduating for another couple of years, the speakers Mr. Alfonso Yuchengco III and Director Jose Javier Reyes gave me a lot of insight in decision-making for the future. Once you step out of college, you have three choices. You can either become an entrepreneur, a professional, or help out with the family business but first and foremost, you must remember never to do something for the sake of doing it. Success does not come easy and you must continue striving to excel in your profession and achieve a semblance of happiness with your work. I agree with what they said that “you can never go wrong doing something you enjoy.” If you enjoy your work, it becomes more of a pastime than an obligation. If you do not even remotely like your work, “no amount of self-brainwashing can make you happy.” Secondly, “you never know what your classmates will be in the future so be nice to all of them.” Who knows, that guy sitting in the corner with his nose buried in a huge book might become the next Bill Gates and the girl who never talks to anyone but her imaginary friend might become the next president of our country. Lastly, keep in mind that “when you step out of college, you know nothing.” Fresh college graduates have this misconception that they know everything they need to know once they finish college. Believe me, you don’t. Didn’t a philosopher say, “the more you know, the more you forget. And the more you forget, the more you don’t understand,” or something to that effect?

If you have a choice, you should opt to go out into the real world rather than stay confined within the family business. You must prove to yourself that you can survive without your family’s help. Success depends on your own output, not theirs. For example, becoming an entrepreneur requires putting yourself and your capital at risk but it would allow you to learn about the real world. And another example is when you’re choosing a company, you must never settle for something that would limit you to less than your full potential. Even though it is always better to start from the very bottom, you must never actually stay there. You must strive to reach the highest possible position that you can. Also, networking is valuable in establishing a name for yourself. Knowing where to pull some strings can get you somewhere fast. It’s sad, but true.

In truth, there isn’t a single job that can guarantee financial security or personal happiness. The Philippines is not as economically fertile as it was years ago. Still, I do not think it would be a good idea to migrate and find a job in a foreign country. Life may not be easy here but it could be worse. Practicality will encourage you to stay and try to institute change in the business industry. You see a lot of people becoming even more disheartened when they work in another country. You have to cope with a new culture and a lifestyle so different from what you’re used to. Whatever you decide, you must keep in mind that money is earned and lost but fulfillment and happiness is lasting.

© 20 July 2003 Fatima Niosco

Song Analysis: Warrior is a Child

Warrior is a Child

(Gary Valenciano - Revive)
Words and music by Twila Paris

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing
I’m strong beyond my years

But they don’t see inside of me
I’m hiding all the tears

Chorus:
They don’t know that I come running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while

(Look up for His smile)
‘Coz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child…

Unafraid because His arrow is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I’m amazing

I never face retreat, oh no
But they don’t see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

Repeat Chorus

They don’t know that I come running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while
(Look up for His smile)
‘Coz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child…

Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano, popularly known as Gary V. has recorded and performed award-winning and chart-topping songs (from thirteen albums), many of which he composed and arranged himself. He has starred in a dozen movies and is acknowledged as the “Concert King of the Philippines.” He is a born-again Christian and he infuses his religious beliefs into many of his songs and he explains that “it’s not a religion, it’s a way of life. I’m not Catholic, I’m not Protestant. I am just a bible-based person who believes in everything Jesus says, who knows that everything I do is in the hands of the one who created me…” He enjoys performing but he enjoys it more when he knows that he can penetrate even one soul with his songs. He says that he “wants to be known as an artist who did his best to walk his talk” but despite his busy schedule, he strives to be a good family man and makes it a point to spend quality time with his loved ones.

Gary says that the only reason he considered releasing “Revive” was because his manager Angeli Pangilinan had the idea of not just reviving songs but also reviving people’s hopes and dreams. Gary says that his serious side is captured by the song, “Warrior is a Child” in his “Revive” album. Most people see him as a person who’s got it all together but like everyone else, there are times when he doesn’t. He doesn’t have everything cut out for him, he experiences tough times just like the best of us. He compares show business to a garden of roses where of course there are thorns. He appreciates the roses but you can’t deny that life is almost always a struggle.

I believe that the song “Warrior is a Child” is something that a lot of people can relate to. First, because Filipinos are known to be religious people who value their faith above everything else and secondly, when you are somebody that everyone else looks up to, it’s hard for other people to digest the fact that you are not as different as they may think. As the first stanza implies, even though a certain person possesses a very strong character or personality, able to face everything that comes his/her way, he/she may have fears that no one else knows about. Sometimes they put up a façade because they don’t want to disappoint the people who look up to them and respect them.

The chorus tells how we can get strength from God when there’s no one else to turn to. That is the only time that we feel safe to cry and let all of our anger and frustrations out. He will not judge or persecute us because He loves us unconditionally and He knows us inside-out. There will always be times when we feel like a little child who just wants to be loved and protected, shielded from the harsh realities of life.

The last stanza gives us the impression that God is always at our side, guiding us in all of our endeavors and keeping us safe when we let our guard down. When you are so respected by your peers, it’s hard for them to believe that something can actually bring you down. It seems to them like you’re invincible, like nothing can hurt you or you won’t let yourself get hurt but there are always people who are out to get to you. They might even be those close to you, driven by jealousy and spite but in the end, all we really need to do is entrust our life to God and follow His plan. He is the only one who won’t let us down, no matter what.

© 10 July 2003 Fatima Niosco

Hypervaluated Hymen: The Deepest Domain of Male Dominance

The hymen is the traditional symbol of a woman’s virginity. It also signifies purity and innocence. But although some people believe that “virginity is the best gift to a husband,” I do not believe that this is true because some guys I know have confided that contrary to popular belief, most men actually prefer women who have had sexual relations. Besides, you have more to offer as an individual than just your virginity. Of course, it also depends on the person’s family background. If a man has deep Christian, particularly Catholic roots, it is more likely that he would prefer that his wife is still a virgin. Some devout Catholics consider premarital sex as an immoral act or a desecration of the body. I remember reading a book mostly about Christian dos and don’ts. One of the authors stated that “sex is meant to be between a man and a woman who are married and any time you take it outside that environment, you disobey God.”

I think it is also unfair that women are considered sluts or whores if they have sex before marriage while men are held in high regard for each of their “conquests.” If men and women were created equal, then why are women considered the weaker sex? And why are men almost always given the upper hand? Take for example, the medieval custom of “parading the sheets” after a newlywed couple’s wedding night. If there is no blood on the sheets, the man is given the right to reject his bride, thereby causing her shame and ridicule. If a girl is compromised, they force the couple to marry or the girl is married off to a suitor twice her age, and sometimes even to men old enough to be her grandfather. Another custom called “hand-fasting,” allows a couple to live together for a period of time for the purpose of getting used to living with each other and seeing if sexual intercourse is satisfactory. If the man is dissatisfied with the woman, he may cast her aside but if it is the other way around, the woman has no choice if the man wants her. If the woman is cast aside, her chances of finding a husband in the future are very slim because she of her lack of virginity and the fact that she was rejected by the first man.

Scientifically speaking, the hymen is a thin membrane that protects the urethra and the womb from disease bearing organisms as stated in the article. One of our professors explained to us, if sexual intercourse is done “correctly,” there would be less pain for the girl and less chance of her becoming traumatized. This also means that if it is done “incorrectly,” there would be lacerations and therefore, bleeding even if the girl is not a virgin anymore. The hymen may also be broken because of horseback-riding, cycling, and other vigorous physical activities. Because of these facts, I believe that it is irrational to consider the hymen as the basic sign of virginity.

I think that a woman’s first experience should not be considered as a rite of passage to womanhood just as the belief that you are never truly a woman unless you have experienced the miracle of birth should not be considered as such. You have to be complete as an individual before you find a mate. How else will you be able to cope with life? If you depend on another person, you will see your world crumble once that person is gone. It’s very sad how even a song was written about it, “first love never dies.” Even if your first experience isn’t worth remembering, you can’t help but think about it if you were traumatized and the memory would haunt you for the rest of your life.

There is also the issue about the Friar’s Scheme. The pamphlets and manuals with instructions on how to make proper confessions caused the betrayal of many confidences regarding some past uprisings and revolutions. You are required to confess all of your deepest and darkest secrets for salvation. The friars seem to act as spies for the Spain. Going about, subtly monitoring the activities of the devout flock. The friars by habit were flocked by female attendants, maidens called “alagas.” They used these virgins for the purpose of perpetuating their bloodlines.

In England, particularly in the 1830s, there were establishments called bordellos where you could purchase a man or woman for the evening. The more respectable, if you can call them that, bordellos were tastefully furnished and the owner would inquire about your preferences. It is common and accepted for an Englishman to take a mistress as long as he abides by certain etiquettes. You must never install your mistress in the same house as your legal wife. If a man bears a title, he must be considerate of his wife and be discreet about his conquests outside of the marriage bed. If a woman however, visits a bordello, she is considered to be a slut. And if she is of noble blood, she will be looked upon with disgust and spurned by the members of the high society.

Also, men with vast carnal knowledge or “rogues” as they were sometimes called were held in high regard. Other men are either in awe of them or basically jealous. Some were even sought after by mothers with daughters of marriageable age. While these men, married or not are revered, unmarried women with sexual knowledge are scorned.

Some communities give too much importance on the hymen and what it symbolizes. It is terribly unjust because they let it rule their opinions of other people and it is easier for them to condemn others based on what common belief dictates.

Whether your hymen is intact or not shouldn’t matter. It does not make you half a person. You are still someone with a lot to live for. It shouldn’t be a cause for condemnation, ridicule, or suicide on the woman’s part. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but why should you care about what other people think? As long as you’re happy with your life and your beliefs, you have things going for you.

© 24 August 2003 Fatima Niosco

Bundu Trap

The first time I came across an article about female circumcision, I was appalled. Although the article “Bundu Trap” by Memuna Sillah was incredibly enlightening, whenever I try to comprehend why in the world people would practice such a horrible act, my mind fails me. I have never really seen the point of female circumcision. I consider it as a painful and totally unnecessary mutilation. If it was for the purpose of enhancing health, I wouldn’t say I would support it but I guess I would tolerate it.

Religiously speaking, if God created us in His image and likeness, and if the body is supposed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, then why destroy such a perfect creation? He gave us dominion over the whole of His creation so that we can care for it and that also means that we should take care of ourselves.

Female genital mutilation is a procedure that surgically removes the girl’s clitoris and renders her incapable of experiencing orgasms in the future. The operation may vary, the entire clitoris may be removed or just part of it. It is supposed to be a method to make girls less likely to have premarital sex. I think that proper rearing and education about sex would benefit young girls more than deciding on such a destructive method.

I really can’t believe that some mothers would take it upon themselves to have their daughters circumcised. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. It’s cruel to lure and trick the girls to wander into the Bundu bushes.

The girls are taught to accept their fate. They are brought up with the knowledge that someday, they will be circumcised with or without their consent. There is also the issue of not being allowed to talk unless the elders ask you to talk. I know how to respect my elders but it also goes both ways, and it doesn’t go to the extent where my rights are curtailed. If you are a minor, someone else is supposed to act or decide in your stead but they still ask you about what you think of certain things, at least some do but you should be able to disagree because it’s your life.

Mami Sowe, the circumciser in the article, seems especially cruel. Although the women believe that everything she says is right, I can’t help but think that she manipulates them too. The girls are at her mercy while they live in the Bundu bush, recuperating and being taught the proper ways a woman should act. When Fanta suddenly spoke and her Auntie Fanta offered to pay a fine for having offended Mami Sowe, she rebuffed her, saying that if there was a fine to be paid she would have said so and indicated the amount. Isn’t that a bit too much? A reprimand probably would have been enough to ensure that the girl learned her lesson. They feared Mami Sowe enough as it is.

Imagine having to pay a fine every time you offended someone. You’ll be deep in debt by the time you reach your prime.

In this case, female circumcision is an initiation or rite of passage into the secret society of women in the Sierra Leone. Although most of the girls protest against the circumcision, they abandon their initial resistance after being told of what they will receive after undergoing the operation. I guess the women think that the deferential treatment they bestow on the circumcised girls make up for the pain of the surgery.

The horror stories about the circumcision condition the girls to fear the Bundu bush for the duration of their younger years and I think that this only aggravates the situation. The girls become even more traumatized after the operation and these leave emotional scars that are sometimes even more damaging than physical ones. You will carry a painful memory for the rest of your life unless you are able to cope with it.

Most cultures want to preserve their old traditions and they continue to believe in the “old ways.” They are afraid of losing or forgetting their heritage so they continue performing such acts even after they have realized that it does more harm than good. I guess it’s true that once you forget something, it ceases to exist.

I can see no advantages in this mutilation process. Some people see it as something that makes women more beautiful and in places where it is commonly practiced, men prefer circumcised wives because they are believed to be more faithful. Most of the articles I’ve read list many health problems caused by the surgery. Some of the harmful effects of this process are hemorrhage, shock, painful scars, keloid formation, and infections.

It is incredibly cruel to inflict such pain on young girls when it is unnecessary. And most of the time, it leaves severe emotional scars that take a very long time to heal or sometimes never heal.

© 24 August 2003 Fatima Niosco

The Initiation of a Maasai Warrior

The rite of passage to manhood for Maasai boys is circumcision. The event takes place when the elders decide that they need a new set of warriors. There are a lot of ceremonies that take place before the actual circumcision and the chosen candidates are prepared for it. His father and brothers speak to him about the dreaded event and tell him that this will symbolize his being accepted into the fold as a grown-up.

Good-natured ribbing or teasing sometimes eases doubts and apprehensions about things you dread but the circumcised Maasai warriors usually throw insults at the candidates and it strengthens their resolve to go through the circumcision with great pride and dignity. It seems very effective because when Tepilit was continuously and unrelentingly insulted, he became even more determined not to move during the circumcision.

During the operation, you must budge or even blink. If you flinch, you shame your family and will be considered a coward. You bring about disgrace to your family and will be fined for your cowardice because flinching means “to run away” for the Maasai. The slightest movement will render you unworthy of becoming a Maasai warrior.

Among the burdens that are placed on the candidates, is the fact that his mother or sisters will have to face the repercussions if he “runs away.” They are punished for the boy’s cowardice.

Everyone experiences moments of weakness where they couldn’t or shouldn’t be blamed for their actions. It’s unfair that society condemns you for life due to a single mistake you committed. You should be able to learn from your mistakes but condemnation takes that opportunity away. Instead, you learn to resent yourself.

When Maasai women are circumcised, they are permitted to cry and kick but when men cry during the operation, they are considered a coward. I don’t agree that crying is a sign of weakness. I believe that crying is a sign of sensitivity and not of cowardice. It takes a real man to cry.

When the operation is over, the initiates are pampered until their wounds heal. And although a Maasai boy emerges a man after the circumcision, he is never fully in control of his life. His father can still order him around until he dies. The result of fighting against his father will be severe punishment. It can curtail his independence but there isn’t much he can do.

These old customs are centered on a lot of superstitions and the rules of society. If you are accepted and respected by the whole society, you have a greater chance for progress.

It is evident even in our modern world that society still and always will dictate what is right and what is wrong. If everything you are doing is acceptable according to social norms, you are welcomed with open arms. If you do something wonderful, they lavish you with praise but once you commit an ungodly act, you are immediately shunned and your good deeds are easily forgotten. People have remarkable memories when it concerns unremarkable acts.

Concerning other Maasai traditions, they believe that milk and meat should not be consumed at the same time because it was regarded as cruel to consume a product of the animal while it was alive, and which was only available after the animal has been killed. Nowadays it is common for people, especially children, to drink milk while eating meat. It is considered to be a nutritious meal because you receive vitamins and minerals from both.

With Maasai men and women, they believe that if an older woman has an affair with a younger man, she starts to appear younger and healthier while it goes the other way for the man. I think it’s a weird misconception because it implies that the youth of the man is somehow transferred to the older woman.

Reading about the Maasai traditions remind me of the Nahua people. Their beliefs are not remotely similar to each other but they are people so different from us that I can’t help but compare them. I can name a few similarities though. One is that they are both proud in some ways. The Nahua people’s elders were keepers of royal lineage and sacred lore. They knew every villager’s pedigree. They kept the details and secrets of the ancient empire but revealed those secrets to certain villagers only when it was absolutely necessary. They also only accepted people into their village who proved to be worthy. It reminded me of how the Maasai boys were regarded as grown-ups only after they had undergone circumcision and then their judgments and opinions would be considered. Every culture is different and in turn, each is also interesting even if you don’t agree with their practices.

© 24 August 2003 Fatima Niosco

Eating Christmas in the Kalahari

Life is unfair. That much we all know. You never get what you want, maybe something akin to it but never what you really want. But that isn’t really the point of “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari” by Richard Lee. It was just the first thing I thought of when I started reading the article. It was a wrong impression because I soon figured out that the !Kung can be described as contradictory people. I do not mean that in a bad way. In fact, they are incredibly amusing like that.

When the social anthropologist Richard Borshay Lee worked with !Kung Bushmen, he took it upon himself to follow the Tswana-Herero custom of slaughtering an ox to feed all of his Bushmen neighbors. Richard Lee decided to find a Christmas ox as a thanksgiving gesture to the Bushmen. He was very disappointed when they told him that the ox he bought was nothing more than a bag of bones. Tomazo explained that the Bushmen love meat but they love fat even more.

It turned out that the Bushmen were playing a joke on him. They did not mean to hurt him. It was their custom. They played the farce just so he wouldn’t brag. They say one thing but they mean another.

They train young Bushmen to be humble and gentle by belittling them instead of praising them when they bring back huge kills to the camp. It is clear that they value kinship because Tomazo explained that they refuse one who boasts, for someday his pride will make him kill somebody. I agree. Some men are driven to take revenge on another man who, for example, stole his girlfriend. That’s an example of a man who had his pride hurt.

They do not want their men to grow up with big egos. They’d rather have their hard day’s work brushed off as worthless rather than give themselves something to brag about. They teach themselves humility because as we can see in our society where humility is rarely seen, the absence of it leaves jealousy rampant.

I came to the conclusion that Bushmen are talented actors. They can carry out a farce to the end without anyone spilling the secret.

We should always be sensitive to other people’s cultures. In this article, the differences between our culture and that of the Bushmen are pronounced. While for us, being generous is considered as a great gesture of friendship or appreciation, the Bushmen looked on it as being a braggart. What we consider an act of thanksgiving may offend them.

The way Richard Lee bought an ox may have also been viewed as an insult by some of the Bushmen. It may have made them feel inadequate. And there is no such thing as a generous act to them because they always think that there is an underlying motive in it. The person might be showing off or making the others feel that he is better than them.

They don’t want a certain person to think he was better than the others because of the good game he caught. For example, if a man comes back with a good kill and another comes back with something not as good as the first man, he will not feel jealous or inadequate because they are treated the same.

You should always listen to what other people mean, not just what they say. I think it would be a good idea to keep this in mind the next time you run into a band of Bushmen.

© 24 August 2003 Fatima Niosco